Filled-bag-sewing machine



Sept. 3, 1929. s, G TA1-E 1,726,868

FILLED. BAG SEWING MACHINE Filled Sept. 20, 1921 6 .meets-Sheet 1 Sept.3, 1929` s KG. TATE 1,726,868

FILLED BAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 3,1929. s. G. TATE FILLED EAG sEwING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20,- 1921 6Sheets-Sheet 1. J :LEER

Sept. 3, 1929. s. G. TATE FILLED BAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 20, 1921GSheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 3, 1929? s,4 G, TATE I '1,726,868 l FILLED BAGSEWING MACHINE v Filed sept. 2o, 1921 asngqt-sheet 5 Sept. 3, 1929. s.G. TATE 1,726,868

` FILLD BAG SEWING MACHINE Filed sept. 2o, 1921 e sheets-sheet eYPatented sept. 3.1929.

UNITED STA-Tias4 PATENT OFFICE.

ASAMUEL GEORGE TATE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TOUNION SPECIAL' MACHINE COMI'ANY, OF CHICAGO, ,.ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONOF ILLINOIS.

F1LLE15BAG-SEWING MACHINE- Application hledseptember 20, 1921. SerialNo. 501,941.

The invention relates to new and useful im-YY provements in sewingmachines, andmore particularly to a sewing machine which is dapted forclosing the mouths of filled ags. o

An object ofthe invention is to provide a sewing machine of the abovecharacter wherein both the conveyor for the bag and the sewing mechanismfor closing the bag maybe simultaneously adjusted toward or from eachother for adjusting the machine for successive operations upon filledbags of different heights.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filled bag sewingmachine having a horizontally disposed conveyor section for presentingthebags to the stitching mechavnism with an exten-sion on which thefilled bags may be placed and conveyed to the horizontal section andwherein a single conveyor belt for the bags runs over both thehorizontal section of the conveyor and the extension.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of theabove type wherein the extension has a hinged connection with thehorizontal section so that said horizontal section may be readilyadjusted to various heights and the inclined section will automaticallybe shifted so as to deliver the 'filled bags on to the horizontalsection, the loading end of the'eXtension remaining in the samehorizontal plane.

A still further object ofthe invention is to providea filled bag sewingmachine wherein the conveyor is positively geared to and driven by thedriving pulley so that the size of the supporting driving pulleys may berelatively small, thus permitting the conveyor to be shifted to a pointnear the floor when operating upon bags of maximum heights.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a filled bagsewing machine having a horizontal conveyor section and an eXtensionwhich may be set in inclined position or in horizontal position, andwhen in horizontal position for operating on bags of the same height,said extension is supported by adinstable legs so that the extension maybe supported in a horizontal line with the main conveyor section.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in partbehereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of ilustration one embodment of theinven- Figure 1 is a front view of a filled bag sewing machine embodyinmy improvements with certain of the partsroken away to show themechanism in rear thereof, only the portion of the inclined conveyorbeing shown;

Fig. 1a is a front View of the remainder of the inclined conveyor;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine with certain parts in section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine;v

Fig. 4 is a view partly in plan and partly -in section showing the partsbeneath the table and with a portion of the conveyor broken away to showthe parts beneath the same;

Fig. 5 is a front View showing a portion of the main section of theconveyor and the extension, said extension being raised to horizontalposition;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectionalview showing the drivingconnection betweenthe main adjusting shaft and the vertical shafts whichshift respectively the sewing head and the conveyor;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional yview showing the driving connectionbetween the main vertical operating shaft and the shaft which drives theconveyor, and

Fig. 8 is a' detail of the transverse section showing one of thesupporting brackets and one of the supporting rollers for theconveyorbelt, and the guide rails which carry the same. Y

The invention is directed particularly to a filled bag sewing machine ofthe open side type, and wherein both the head and the conveyor aremounted .for adjustment such as shown for example in the re-issue patentgranted Dudley S. Seymour, March 5, 1918, Number 14,443. The machine ofthe present invention has a main supporting framework on which ismounted a sewing machine head. Said sewing machine head is carried by avertical standard.l and is so attached thereto that it may be adjustedvertically. Said head overhangs the framework and the needle is arrangedso as to reciprocate in a horizontal line or substantially so. Mountedon the frame is a plate which is adapted to be adjusted vertically, andthis plate is provided with brackets which carry a supporting table overwhich the conveyor belt runs. Said supporting table is preferably madeup of a series of rollers so as to facilitate the movements of theconveyor belt when loaded with a heavy filled bag. The sewing headoverhangs this conveyor and is adapted to form a line of stitching forclosing the mouth of the bag lresting on the conveyor and moved thereby.Thevconveyor consists preferably of sprocket chains running oversprocket wheels and having a plurality of lugs which are riveted orotherwise secured to a conveyor belt. At each end of the supportingtable are supporting rollers for the conveyor belt. Extending from theframe and in line with the conveyor is an extension which is hinged tothe main section of the conveyor supporting fra-me, and the conveyorbelt runs over the extension. This extension may be placed at an inclineor may be set in horizontal alinement with the main section, andadjustable legs are provided for supportin said eXtension when placedhorizontally. eans is provided for simultaneously raising the conveyorand lowering the sewing head, or s1- multaneously lowering the conveyorand ralsing the sewing head so that the machine may be quickly set forbags of different heights.

'Referring more in detail `to the` drawings, my improved machineconsists of a supporting framework 1 which is closed at the top by atable 2. Mounted on the table 2 is a standard 3 which consists of sideplates and a connecting member or members 4. A bracket 5 is providedwith a dove-tailed recess adapted to receive a dove-tailed projection 6carried by the members 4, and the bracket is capable of verticaladjustment on these members 4. Mounted on the bracket 5 is a secondbracket 7 which is secured thereto by bolts 8, 8 passing through slots 9into the bracket 5. Said second bracket 7 extends to the front of thetable and the sewing machine 10 is bolted to this bracket. The sewingmachine is connected to the bracket in such a way that the needle bar 11reciprocates in a substantially horizontal plane. The needle bar isoperated by means of a needle lever 12 and the bag material passesbetween the bed plate or cylinder arm 13 and the presser foot 14 in theusual manner. The sewing machine is driven by a belt pulley 15. Thisbelt pulley is connected by means of a belt 16 to a belt pulley 17 whichis splin'ed about a shaft 18 so that the belt pulley 17 may slidevertically on the shaft 18, but rotates therewith. The shaft 18 isconnected to a friction clutch 19 in the main driving pulley 2O which inturn is operated by a belt 21 driven by a motor 22. The motor 22 iscarried by suitable brackets which are adjustably connected by means ofbolts 23 passingthrough slots 24 in the table 2.v

Mounted on the front portion of the framework 1 is an adjustable support25. Said support is adapted to slide vertically on the frame and issupported and adjusted to dif ferent vertical positions by two parallelshafts 26, 26, said shafts being mounted in fixed bearings in the frameland having threaded engagements with the support 25.,

The support may be secured in adjusted positions by means of hand setscrews 27, 27, one at each side of the machine. Projecting laterallyfrom the support 25 are two angle brackets 28, 28 on which are mountedspaced supporting rails 29, 29 Iand these supporting rails 29, 29 carr aseries of spaced rollers 30. Running overt e rollers. 30 is a conveyorbelt 31. Mounted in the adjustable support 25 is a shaft 32. Said shaft32 carries two spaced sprockets 33, 33 and a 'pulley or drum 34. Alsomounted on the shaft 32 is a sprocket 35. Projecting from the other endof the support 25 is an arbor 36 which carries a pair of sprocket wheels37, 37 and a drum 38. The L conveyor belt 31 consists of two sprocket'Achains 39, 39 running over the sprocket wheels'f 33 and 37 at oppositesides of the conveyor, l' l respectively, and a iiexible belt 4() whichis secured to the sprocket chains by riveting or bolting the same toears 41, 41 projecting from the sprocket chain. It will thus be seenthat the conveyor belt is geared to the sprocket wheels through thesprocket chains and will be positively driven thereby.- The sprocketwheel 35 is driven by a sprocket chain 42 which runs over a sprocketwheel 43 secured to a shaft 44 (see Fig. 7) which is mounted on abearing sleeve 45. The shaft 44 at its inner end carries fa gear wheel46 which meshes with a worm gear 47 on a vertical shaft 48. Thisvertical shaft 48 is adapted to be connected with the main drivingpulley 20 by means of a friction clutch 49. The friction clutches foroperating the shafts 18 and 48 are controlled by a lever 50 and ispreferably of the t pe shown and described in the patent grante toDudley S; Seymour, August 7 1917, -No. 1,235,846. This lever 50 isconnected bv a rod 51 to a lever 52 which in turn is controlled by aknee shift 53.

As clearly set forth in the patent to Sey mour referred to, when theknee shift is operated to a certain extent, the conveyor belt will bedriven and when it is shifted to a further extent, then the sewingmachine will be start-l ed and operated in conjunction with the conveyorbelt. It is understood, of course, that the sewing machine is providedwith the usual four-motion feeding mechanism, and that the feed of themouth of the bag is substantially in unison with the travel of the bagas it is moved by the conveyor belt.

Extending 'laterally from the horizontal section of the conveyor is anextension 54. Said extension 54 consists of two side members 55, 55which are supported by the arbor I36 so as to turn about the centerthereof as a pivot. The outer ends of the side members 55, are connectedby a shaft 56. Mounted on the shaft 56 are two sprocket wheels one ofwhich is indicated at 57 over which the sprocket chains of the conveyorrun. Also journaled in the side members are spaced rollers 58 similar inconstruction to the rollers 30. The conveyor belt rests on theserollers. It will be noted that the conveyor belt extends over both themain horizontal section and the extension, and, of course, at theconnection between lthe horizontal section and the extension, saidconveyor rests on the drum 38. At the outer end of the members 55 andjournaled on the shaft 56 are two rollers one of which is indicated at59, said rollers serve as a means for supporting the' outer end of theextension when in inclined position. As above noted, thesupport 25 iscapable of being adjusted vertically by means of the twol verticalshafts 26. These shafts 26 are geared toa y'horizontal shaft 60 vwhichis capable of being turned by means of a crank 61. When the crank 61 isturned in one direction, the support 25 is raised, and when turned inthe opposite direction, the support 25 is lowered. The threaded shafts26 which raise and lower the support 425 will sustain it in variousadjusted positions. As it is raised, the left-hand end of the extensionas viewed in Fig. 1, will be raised, and the rollers 59 will run alongthe floor and allow the inclined section of the conveyor toautomatically assume"y a position for delivering-the filled bags placedon theconveyor on to the horizontalsection of the conveyor. y j 1 Thesewing machine head is raised and -lowered by means of'a'fverticalshaftf62.

Said vertical shaft 62 ismounted in suitable bearings, one of which isshown'- at 63 in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Said 'shaft is connected by 'auniversal joint 64 with an inclined shaft section 65, which carries abevel gear 66 meshin with a bevel gear 67 on the shaft 60. T e shaft 62extends through the threaded sleeve 68 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3of the drawings. This sleeve 68 is carried by a projecting bracket arm69 formed as a part of the bracket 5. As the shaft 62 is rotated, thebracket 5 will be raised or lowered, depending upon the direction ofrotation of the shaft 62 and this in turn will raise or lowei` thesewing machine head. This shaft 62 is soegeared to the shaft 60, and theshafts 26 are so geared to the shaft 60, that when the shaft 60 isrotated in one direction, the support 25 for the conveyor willv beraised and the sewing machine head will be lowered, andwhen the shaft 60is rotated in the other direction, the support 25 for the lconveyor willbe lowered and the sewing machine heady will be raised.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, I have diagrammatically shown the settingof the conveyor and the sewing machine head for four different sizes ofsacks for Hour, twelve pounds, twenty-four pounds, forty-eight poundsand ninety-eight pounds. It is twenty-'seven inches from the bottom ofaninety-eight pound sack to the line of stitching for closing the mouthof the sack, while it is twenty-three inches from the bottom of aforty-eight pound sack to the proper place for the line of stitches forclosing the mouth thereof. It is nineteen and three-quarter inches for atwenty-four pound sack and' fifteen and one-half inches for a twelvepound sack. The conveyor is shown as set for a ninety-eight pound sack,and it is twenty-seven inches from the line a whichy is the lineoftravel from the bottom of the sack to the line awhere the line ofstitching should be placed. When a forty-eight pound sack is to bestitched, the crank 61 is turned so as to raise the conveyor to the lineb. Thisparts are only shifted through al distance of two inches this maybe very quickly accomplished. Furthermore, for a forty-eight pound sack,the .conveyor belt is only raised a distance of two inches. Prior to myinvention, when the conveyor is shifted for different sized sacks, it israised approximately -theentire distance, that is, the four inches whenlgoing from a ninety-eight to a fortyeight pound sack, and this bringsthe conveyor a considerable distance from the floor, requiring thelifting of the sacks, through a greater distance if `they are placeddirectly on the horizontal section of the conveyor. It will also b eobvious that in setting the machine, for twenty-four ound sacks, and fortwelve .pound sacks, tiie conveyor is vonly lifted half the distance,while the sewing machine is lowered the other half of the distancerequired. It will also be noted that in shifting from a twenty-fourpound sack'to a ninet -eight pound sack, the needle is shifted ess thanthree inches above and below the central position and therefore theoperatin o sition of the needle is always easily accessi e to theoperator. The inclined conveyor is very convenient in feeding the sacksto the horizontal section of the conveyor.

The sacks arey placed on this inclined extension, and are carriedthereby up on to the horizontal section of the conveyor. If the inclined`section is used for bringing the sacks up to the horizontal conveyor,there is a limit to the angle of inclination without putting too great aload on the machine, and at which the bags will ride properly. Thismight be overcome by making a very long extension. By my improvedarrangement, however, where the range is adjusted a comporatively shortdistance, while even going from one extreme size of sack to another, theextension can be made relatively short. Then again, by positivelydriving the belt to the sprocket chain connection in the driving pulley,the driving pulley may be comparatively small in diameter andl thusmoved to a comparatively lowposition on the frame.

Connected to the side members 55 are arms which carry a roller 71 andsprings 72 connected to the arm 70 raise the roller into yieldingcontact with the lower strand of the conveyor, and this roller serves asa support therefor. It may sometimes be desirable t0 4place the members55 in horizontal alinement with the main section of the conveyor, and Ihave therefore provided foldable supporting legs 7 3 and 7 3 for theinclined section of the conveyor. Said legs are pivoted at their upperends at to the side members 55 and are held in vertical position bymeans of folding braces 74. Each leg is made in tvo sections 73 and 73which are secured t gether by suitable clamping bolts, thus th legs maybe extended to accommodate any adjusted position of the horizontalsection of the conveyor.

It will be noted that there is a single conveyor running over both theinclined section and the horizontal section, and therefore, the filledbags will be conveyed from one section on to the other without anydanger of being tipped over. It will also be noted that the main sectionof the conveyor which supports the bag while it is being stitched ishorizontal, and therefore the bottom of the bag travels in a horizontalplane with the bag vertical, while the bag is being stitched, and thisenables a horizontal line of stitching parallel with the bottom of thebag to be made. It will also be noted that when the horizontal sectionis adjusted for a different height of bag, the inclined section isautomatically positioned to deliver the bags on to the horizontalsection in its new position. Inasmuch as the conveyor may be shiftedquickly from one set position to another, bags may be taken insuccession which are different heights, one operator adjusting theconveyor while the other guides and directs the bags to be stitched.While I have shown hand means for adjusting the conveyor and sewing headto different positions, it will be understood that power means may beused for bringing about this adjustment, if desired.

It will be noted that the conveyor can be adjusted vertically withoutdisturbing the driving connections therefor. The worm wheel 47 issplined on the shaft 48 and is free to slide vertically thereon, saidWorm wheel being held continuously in mesh with the gear wheel 46 bythe-surrounding casing forming a part of the bearing for the shaft 44.It will also be noted that the sewing machine head may be adjustedvertically without disturbing the driving connections therefor. The beltwheel driving the sewing machine as above noted is splined on the shaft18 and said belt wheel 17 is supported by a bearing carried by an arm 5which is attached to t-he bracket 5 so that the belt. wheel 17 moves upand down with the bracket.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and thearrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to.secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A filled bag closing machine comprising a conveyor, a supporttherefor, a sewing head overhanging said conveyor', a support for thesewing head, and means for simultaneously adjusting said sewing head andconveyor toward and from each other.

Q. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supportingl frame, aconveyor carried thereby, a sewing head carried by said frame, andoverhanging said conveyor, driving mechanism for actuating said sewinghead and for operating said conveyor, and means for simultaneouslyadjusting the sewing head and conveyor toward and from each otherwithout disturbing the driving connections for the sewing head andconveyor.

3. A filled bag sewing machine comprising a supporting frame', aconveyor carried by said frame, a sewing head carried by said frame andoverhanging said conveyor, a motor carried by said frame, means foractuating the sewing'head from said motor. means for actuating theconveyor from said motor, and means for simultaneously adjusting saidsewing head and conveyor toward and from each other without disturbingthe driving connections for the sewing head and conveyor.

4. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, aconveyor carried thereby, a sewing .head overhanging said conveyor andincluding a horizontally disposed needle and a feeding mechanism forfeeding the mouth of the bag to the needle, means for actuating saidsewing head, means for actuating said conveyor whereby said conveyorfeeds the filled bags substantially in unison with the feed of the mouthof the bag by the feed of the sewing machine, and means forsimultaneously adjusting the sewing head and conveyor toward and fromeach other without disturbing the feed of the mouth of the bag or thetravel of the conveyor.

5. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, aconveyor carried thereby, a sewing head carried by the frame andoverhanging said conveyor, said conveyor having a horizontal section forfeeding the llb filled bag while it is being stitched, and means forsimultaneously moving said conveyor section and said sewing .head bodilytoward and from each other.

6. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, parallelvertical threaded shafts mounted in said frame, a support carried bysaid threaded shafts, a conveyor carried by said support, an uprightcarried by said supporting frame, a threaded shaft extending up intosaid upright, a bracket mounted on said shaft and slidable upon saidupright, a sewing head carried by said bracket and overhanging theconveyor, and means for simultaneously turning the vertical shafts formoving the conveyor and sewing head toward and from each other.

7. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, parallelvertical thread'- ed shafts mounted in said frame, a support carried bysaid threaded shafts, a conveyor carried by said support, an uprightcarried by said supporting frame, a threaded shaft extending up intosaid upright, a' bracket mounted on said shaft and slidable upon saidupright, a sewing head carried by said bracket and overhanging theconveyor, a horizontal shaft, gearing connecting the horizontal shaft tothe upright vertical shafts carrying the conveyor, means for connectingsaid horizontal shaft to the vertical shaft carrying the bracket for thesewing head, and means for turning said horizontal shaft forsimultaneously adjusting the sewing head and conveyor toward and fromeach other.

8. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, a supportmounted on said frame, a driving pulley carried by said support, aconveyor belt running over said driving pulley, said conveyor beltconsisting of spaced sprocket chains geared to the pulley and 'aflexible belt rigidly fixed to said sprocket chains and movabletherewith, and means for supporting said conveyor throughout the entirewidth thereof whereby filled bags may be supported thereon and fed tothe sewing head, and a sewing head carried by said frame and overhangingsaid conveyor.

9. A lled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, a sewinghead carried by said frame and overhanging the same, a conveyor forconveying filled bags to said sewing head, said conveyor including ahorizontal section and an inclined section hinged to said horizontalsection, means for raising said horizontal section and simultaneouslyraising the inclined section at its connection therewith, and means forsimultaneously adjusting the sewing head and conveyor toward and fromeach other.

10. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, a sewinghead carried by said frame and overhanging the same, a conveyor forconveying filled bags to said 11. A filled bag closing machine compris-ying a supporting frame, a sewing head carried by said frame andoverhanging the same, a conveyor for conveying filled bags lto saidsewing head, said conveyor including a horizontal section and aninclined section hin ed to said' horizontal section, means for raisingsald horlzontal sectlon and vsimultaneously raising the inclined sectionat its connection therewith, means for supporting said inclined sectionwhen raised to horizontal position, and means for simultaneouslyad`usting the sewing head and conveyor towar and from each other.

12. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, a sewinghead c arried by said frame and overhanging the same, a conveyor forconveying filled bags to said sewing head, said conveyor including ahorizontal section and an inclined section hinged to said horizontalsection, means for raising said horizontal section and simultaneouslyraising the inclined section at its connection therewith, means forsupporting said inclined section when raised to horizontal position,said means being adjustable to accord with various heights of thehorizontal section.

13. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, a sewinghead carried by said frame and overhanging the same, a conveyor belt forconveying filled bags to the sewing head, said conveyor belt includingtwo sprocket chains, and a flexible belt secured to 'said chains, andsprocket wheels at the opposite sides of said belt over which saidchains run whereby said belt is positively moved for conveying thefilled bags to the sewing head and means for supporting said conveyorthroughout the entire width and length thereof.

14. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, a sewinghead carried by said frame and overhanging the same, a conveyor belt forconveying filled bags to the sewing head, said conveyor belt. includingtwo sprocket chains, a flexible belt secured to said chains, sprocketwheels at the opposite sides of said belt over which said chains runwherebv said belt is positively moved for conveying the filled bags tothe sewing head, and means for supporting said flexible beltintermediate its sides and ends whereby the same is caused to travel ina horizontal line.

15. A filled bag closing machine compris-V ing a supporting frame, asewing head carried by said frame and overhanging the same, a conveyorfor conveying filled bags to said sewing head, said conveyor including a4horizontal section and an extension hinged thereto, a conveyor beltrunning over said horizontal section and extension, and means forsimultaneously adjusting the sewing head and conveyor toward and fromeach other. f

16. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, a sewinghead carried by` said frame and overhanging the same, a conveyor. forconveying filled bags to said sewing head, said conveyor including ahorizontal section and an inclined section hinged to said horizontalsection, means for raising said horizontal section and simultaneouslyraising the inclined section at its connection therewith, and auxiliarymeans independent of the raising and lowering means for supporting saidinclined section in different set positions.

17. A filled bag closing machine comprising a supporting frame, asupport carried by said frame, a driving pulley mounted on said support,means for operating said driving pulley, a conveyor belt running oversaid driving pulley, said driving pulley having sprocket Wheels at eachend thereof, said conveyor belt havinglsprocket chains at each sidethereof and located in the plane of the conveyor belt, said sprocketchains and conveyor running over said pullevr and sprocket Wheelsassociated therewith, and means for supporting said conveyor belt andsprocket chains intermediate the side edges of the conveyor belt andthroughout the length thereof.

In testimony whereof, Iaiix my signature. 40

-SAMUEL GEORGE TATE.

